
Glass. 
Book. 



ituUau Wtpixh. 




NANA BUSH, 



Cj^r^THE OyiBBEWAY SAVIOUR.- 



I 



Bi@0 



UH-UM 



^ 



-) OR (- 



\ 



THE! :flooid. 



BY THE 



REV. y. I. HIND LEY, M.A., 



OF BARRIE. 



\ 



1885. 



. C6/y: 



^ \ XTRUDUCl'lON. /; ^ S 



1 



The u'uitter coiitaiiietl in tlie^io legends has been collect'' 
V'(l directly fnnu tlie tribe of Ujibbewa Indians, dwelling 
'on the 2vorth Shore and at Frencli Bay. The author has 
taken nothing from any book on the subject, but has ob^ 
tained his know ledge from personal experience among the 
Indians, and from Missionaries among them.. He desires to 
^icknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. John L. Lister, who 
laboured for years among the OjibbeWas. The Indian is 
allowed to tell his own story, and only one or two depar- 
tures have been made, these will be noticed by the reader, 
as they are enclosed in brackets. The author has long felt 
that we know too little of our Canadian Red Men, hence 
this poem. 



^^^Cs 



f7 



INDIAN LEGENDS 



LEGEND OF NANABUSH, 



Where Father Huron laps the rugged sliores 

Of Manitoulin's Isle, and where Cape tlurde 

And Cabot's Head projecting, face tlie North, 

And point to other isles magnificent 

Which lie beneath the North Shore's rock}- brow 

'Tis here hath found a home that tribe renowned. 

The far-famed children of great Nanabush, 

Canadian Red Men named Ojibbewas. 

Who tell in legends lengthy, strange and grand, 

How came their bold progenitor to earth ; 

And how he wrought and warred prodigiously — 

What miracles performed, what foes he slew — 

What blessings he procured for human kind. 

Tliey thus narrate : — Ma-we-shah (long ago) 
There lived an aged man, to whom were born 
Twelve stalwart sons — one only daughter fair, 
Whose queenly beauty was surpassed alone 
By maiden virtue and true modesty. 

She sought no marital alliances - 
With dusky braves, but waited on her sire. 
And cheered his heart, while age crept on apace. 

A strange desire possessed the burning soul 

Of Nanabush, to leave Chee-by ah-kee,* 

And visit earth in a mysterious way. 

So with Chee-by-yah-boog, his brother, he 

Entered the womb of this same maiden fair ; 

Conceived immaculate or nobly born 

Of * Shah-wunne Nodin, their tender sire. 

*Chee-by ah-kee — The Spirit Land. 
*Shah-wunne Nodin — South wind. 



LEGEND OF NAXABUSII. 

Conscious they rest, and in deep anger hear 
Her father and her brothers harshly chide 
The unhappy maid, for staining their fair fame 
With foul dishonour by unseemly deed. 

They drive her forth alone — thus she abides 
Until the birtli of these illustrious twins. 
O'ercome with grief, the broken-hearted maid 
Pours out her life the hour the babes were born, 
AtkI flies immortal to the Spirit Land. 

The twins survive, — nor helpless they — robust 
They scour the forests o'er ere one hour old — 
Pluck the wiM fruits, and dig the esculent 
Until they both arrive at man's estate. 

Greatest of this great pair was Nanabush, 
Who soon becomes -f- neb-wa-kah-win (the wise), 
Converses freely with the birds and beasts, 
With trees, and stones, and even mother earth. 

In contemplation d.eep his time is spent 
Within I wig-wa-sah-gum-mig (his liark lodge) 
Thinking of self alone, till self appears 
Greater than all mankind — more powerful 
Even than ** ah-nah-mah-kum-mig muh-ne-doog, 

(Inferior Spirits subterranean). 
Yea, greater than the mighty Manitou. 

Such pride impunibly can ne'er prevail, 
To Nanabush must quaff the cup of grief. 

-I'doved his Ijrother twin Chee-bi-vah-booo;, 
As only twins can love. 

Solicitous, 
He solemn warns his brother to beware 
The ice-bound lake, where dwelt their common foe. 
*Wah-bi-mee-zhee-be-zhee and all his braves. 

Chee-by-yah-boog, though good, and brave, and true, 
A might}" nimrod. fired with thrust of game 
Forgets th' repeated warning, rashly treads 
Th' enchanted lake ; is seized, dragged down and slain 
By their rapacious foe the lion white. 

Within his tent of bark great Nanabush 
Waits long and anxious the return of him 

tNeb-wa-kah-win — The wise one. 
jWig-wa sah-gmii-mig — A bark lodge. 

**Ah-iiah-mah-kum-mig niuh-ue-doog — Underground Spirits . 
*Wah-bi-mee-zhee be-zhee — The White Linn. 



4 LEi;liKb OP NANABUSir. 

Whose very soul seems Itlemled with his own. 

He coines not. 

Quick he seeks the liaunts 
Of liis oM frieliils within the forest deep ; 
Questions both beast and bird if they have seen 
The h)ved, the lost, the mourned Chee-bi-yah-boog. 

But Kee-che-*f-Muh-ne-doo has closed the mouth 
Of every beast an<;l bird lest he betray 
The secret of the hunters cruel fate. 
So Nana})ush returns disconsolate; 
And sitting down within his h^nely tent. 
He for the lost one raises this lament. 

LAMENT OF NANABUSH. 

Chee-bi^yah'boog ' Chee-bi-yah-booi,^ ! 
My brother good, and brave, and true ; 
I search the forest through and through, 
I cry in vain Chee-bi-yah-boog. 

I ask the birds, but they are dumb, 
I ask the beasts if they can tell 
Within what haunt or rocky dell 
I may into thy presence come. 

Alas, great Kee-che Muh-ne-doo 
Has closed their mouths they dare not speak, 
Lest he his vengeance on them Wreak, 
They fly affrighted from my view. 

I to my lonely tent am botne 
On wings of hope, mahap to gain 
One glimpse of thee returned again— 
'Tis vain, alone I'm left to mourn. 

There hangs untouched the flitch of moose 
Prepared for thee — that empty place 
To all that now recalls thy face— 
Alas ! Alas ! Chee-bi-yah-boog. 

Chee-bi-yah-boog ! Chee-bi-yah-boog ! 
Can it be true that thoU didst choose 
The happy huntino- grounds of light 
Which All the Indian with delight ? 
Or did the cruel Hon white 
Plunge thee in everlasting night ? 
How shall I know Chee-bi-yah-boog ? 

+Kee-che-Miih'nedoo — The Great Spirit. 



LIf<;ENTJ OF XA>rAB"(ySH.. 

Didsi tliou my solemn warning take 
And shun the dread eitichiUAte<i lake ■' 
What glooijiy fears within me rise ' 
What hitter tears bedim mine eyes! 
What poignant grief evokes my cries ' 
My groans shall ren<I Ijoth earth and ski* 
For thc<' my lost Chee-hi-yali-V)0(«. 

i) wilt thou never more return ? 
An<l must I always dwell alone, 
I'on'v-ulse my frame with piteous groan ? 
Then shall my very flesh and bone 
l'onsiim<- with grief and in me burn 
Till breaks my hea,rt ( 'hee-bi--yah-booz. 



Twas thus ilid Nanabush lament; 
And ere his mighty grief was spent 
The very rocks in twain were rent. 

For as tlK' spasms upon him came, 
And shoiik with violence his frame, 
He to the earth transmits the same. 

Whieli seems in terror to uph.eave 

Till streams their native courses leave — 

New springs the solid lime-stone cleave. 

Huge rocks roll dtown the mountain's side- 
Th' affrighted heavens in darkness hi<le ; 
And stars are plunged beneath the tide. 

All nature seems to sympathize — 
The beasts and birds mingle their cries 
With those of Nanabush, the wise. 

All tribes of men, (en-ni-ne-wug) 
And looses spirits (Muh-ne-doog) 
In council meet * ah-wa-se-wug. 

And all implore the Spirit Great 

His awful anger to abate 

And shield them from iuipending fate. 

For dire destruction threatens all, 
Such P-rief does Nanabush entrall. 
So on the Manitou they call. 

*Ah-wa-aee-wug — Animals. 



LEGEND OF NANABUSM. 

And hunibly ask liim to r(^ore f| 
To Nanabush the peace of yore, 
And they will serve him evermore. 

The Spirit listens to their cries, 
And bids Chee-bi-yah-booz arise, 
Who fortJiwith to his brother hies. 

Without the camp he waiting stands 

To see what Nanabush commands ; 

And gently knocks witli trembling hands. 

The sor'wing brother rises not, 
Nor even asks him what he sought, 
For grief has chained him to the spot. 

At length he asks in accents brief, — 
" Who dares invade the tent of grief. 
Nor solace bring to my relief. 

"'Tis * Ke-shee mau," he liumbly said, 

Returned the living from the dead; 

Then cheer thy heart, and raise thy head." 

Up from the gTound the mourner sprung, 
■ His transport thus unloosed his tongue, 
In ecstasy he rapturous sung : — 

SONG OF XANABU8H. 

My loved^ my lost, Chee-bi-yah-booz! 
Can I believe the joyful news 

That once again I hear thy voice ! 
Full deep for thee I've groaned and sighed. 
Full loud for thee I've wept and cried, 
And mourned for thee as one who died, 

But now, alas ! what is my choice ? 

Should I receive thee back alive, 
Can I the sneerino- laugh survive 

Of God's and men who heard my grief. 
Break forth in mournino- such as mine. 
On which the heavens refused to shine ? 
They conscious are 'twas e'en divine, 
Then can I, dare I find relief ? 

*Kee-shee mail— Younger brother. 



LEGEM) OF NANABUSH. 

And take|]feelto ^y breast once more ? 

I love thee brother as of yore, 
And long again to see thy face ; ^^ 

JBut 3'et I cannot brook the scorn ' 
Of Gods, and men ignobly born ; 
Jf thou nmst vanish e'er the morn, 

And thus me rescue frorn disgrace. 

Alas ! for this unwelcome truth 
Is forced on me— In tender youth, 

Death claimed and took thee for his son, 
And so shall each Ojibbe%\'a 
Be early called by death away 
To happy hunting fields of day, 

And leave his friends on earth alone. 

Take then "* Ku kun-zha in thy liand. 
This -j- mo-ka-maun and seek a land, 

\ Epun-gis-he-mook (towards tlie setting sun). 
A straight, smooth path to it prepare,— 
Build there a home with tender care, — 
Kindle a fire tliat each maj' share 
Such bliss when life's short course is run. 

So shall each Red Man happy Ije 
In hope of this Chee-by ah-kee 

When ends this fitful dream below ; 
Boldly he shall death's valley dare, — 
Enter with joy that dwelling fair, 
Which thou, my brother, shall prepare 

For all wlio in thy footsteps go. 

Then Nanabush from out the embers grasped 
A burning brand, and thrust the door ajar 
He thrust the same together with a knife 
Saying :— 

" My loved Chee-bi-yah-booz farewell ! 
No more I see thy face, nor grasp thy hand ; — 
Deep in my heart thine image still shalt dwell 
Until I seek thee in the Better land. 

Then take this brand and trusty hunting knife 
And hie thee onward towards the sunny west ; — 
Our paths divergent — yet in either life. 
In blessing others we ourselves are blest. 

*Ku-kun-zha— Coal of fire. 
tMo-ka-maiin — Hunting knife. 
jEpun gis-lie-mook— Towards the setting sun — West. 



'Twas thus he spoke, obedient to the word, 
( 'hee-bi-yuh-booz, grasping the knife and tire 
Instantly vanislies towards the west. 

Now Nanabush retires vvitliin his tent; 

And soon his loving heart repentant throbs. 

And sorely for his unnatural deed. 

That he, his brother, whom the gods restored, 

Should not receive witli open aruis again. 

Nor e'en admit hiui to his camp once more ; 

Nor parting shake his hand, nor even snatch 

One brief glance of that oul-c lamihar face. 

He rushes forth in frenzy ; calls aloud 

(.'onie l>ack ! come back, Chee-bi-yah-booz, come 

back ! 
Why did I bid thee go from me again { 
Return, return, or else my heart will break. 

But no response- Ohee-bi-yah-booz is gone 
Vanished complete to * e-pun-gis-he-mook. 

Entering his lonely wigwam once again, 
Thrice lonely now, since unfraternal he 
Had heartless driven his brother froiii its door. 
In deep contrition Nanabush sits down ; 
His heavy heart pours out its tide of woe. 

This second burst of grief, e'en as before, 
With violence convulsed the earth and heavens : 
And all the attending horrors menace men, 
And birds and beasts, as when before they met 
In council to invoke the Manitou. 

Att'righted they in solemn concert meet ; 
Ana all the Mighty Spirit's mercy me ; 
Who bows unto their cry a graceful ear ; 
Yet not again restores Chce-bi-yah-booz ; 
But sends to Nanabush the grim * muh-(}wah 
Inviting him to come to ** ish-pe-ming ; 
Where he all wisdom and sustaining strength, 
For this dark dispensation shall obtain. 

But Nanabtish bowed down with deepest grief ; 
Sitting with hidden face between his knees, 
Quite (leaf to all entreaties, thus does he 
The very presence of Muh-qwah ignore. 
Others are sent with similar results ; 
He heeds not ; but in silent sorrow sits. 

*E-pu.-.-gis-he-mook — The west or sunset. 

*Muh-qwah— Bear. 

** Ish-pe-minfif — Heaven. 



LEGEND OP NANABUSH, 

Till t wa-bi mee-zik on the scene appears. 

In gentle terms he eloquently pleads, 

Arguing powerfully in words of love ; 

80 long, so earnest!}^, that Nanabush 

At length in silence rises to his feet — 

As wa-bi mee-zik leads he follows on ; 

And slowly treads the tracks the otter makes. 

At length the entrance into ish-pe-ming 

By trap-door barred, transported they espy ; 

Which soon is opene<l, and they ushered are 

Into the presence of the Spirit Great. 

Who welcomes Nanabush with cordial words, 

And gently him convinces of his pride 

And vain imaginings, by which he thought 

Himself as mighty as the Manitou. 

Compared with whom now Nanabush appears 

As nothing; yea his boasted powers 

Of nature and of magic, are the gifts 

Of the Great Spirit unto whom alone 

Belongs the attribute omnipotent. 

In deep humility then Nanabush 

Acknowledges his vaunting, sinful pride. 

And feels his grief has been his richest boon. 

A being changed, he dwells in ish-pe-ming 

Some length of time, and then to earth return.*!, 

Receives the gift * pun-je-goos-im composed 

Of pelt of weasel, mink, or otter white, 

Granted by the Great Spirit to mankind. 

That they surcease of sorrow, cure of ilJs 

To which the flesh is subject might obtain. 

The Spirit also unto him imparts 

Knowledge of all such songs those Red men sin<T. 

Who now ob>.erve the strange religious rites 

Which appertain to that religion new. 

Great Nanabush brought down from ish-pe-ming. 

Himself inducted by the Spirit Great 

Into these solemn, sacred mysteries ; 

He taught according to the Manitou 

To all the tribe«now called Ojibbewa. 

He taught them honesty : to scorn to take 

The venison killed by another's hand, 

Pendant on branch of tree. Nor e'en to claim 

The game another's gun the skin abrased. 

Nor stealthy steal from out the cunning snare 

tWa-bi mee-gik- The white otter. 
*Pun-je-goos-im— Medicine bag. 



10 LEGEND OF NANABtTSH. 

That wiiicli some hunter's wisdom had entrapped. 
Neither to tread with sacriligious feet 
The empty camp of absent brave to filch. 
Trifle or treasure he might leave behind. 

He taught the Indian wife watching to wait 
Her hungry husband's home-returning feet ;, 
To run to meet him with a cheerful smile ; 
His moccasins, now wet, and travel-stained. 
To loose with loving hands from off his feet, 
To place a mat near by the cheerful lire, 
On wliich he might recline his wearied limbs — 
To cook of food a plentiful supply, 
That he his appetite might satiate 
E'er she him questioned of his hunt's .success. 

Thus might they their integrity maintain 
Through all the trying, tortuous, trail of life ; 
And such alone, at length should reach the goal 
Chee-by ah-kee— the sunny Spirit land. 

Employed in labors love inspired on earth. 
Our hero lived comparative content -^ 
Yet ever and anon his heart reverts 
Unto the sore bereavement of the past, 
And longs to see the lost Chee-by-yah-booz. 

Tlie Spirit Great in mercy condescends 
To have compassion on his lonely heart. 
[<'or solace in his sorrow, sends straitway 
Me-ge-ze, which the rolling clouds can pierce. 
Of plumage grand, of pinion powerful 
To bear him to and fro upon the earth, 
Quite cheered with which he quells his surging soul„ 
And humbly bows beneath the chastening rod. 

*Me-ge-ze— The eagle. 



THE DELUGE, 

(moosh-kuh-ung.) 



.3ust as the sun's last slantmg silent rays 
<l!ave notice that his daily course was run; 
The hero of our tale the shingled shore 
t.)f the enchanted lake in silence trode. 

Wrapped deep in thought ; he suddenly espies 
A substance tossed upon the billows' breast. 
Ourious to know what this strange sight might be> 
He calls on * kish-ke-mah-ze to explain. 
T!)e bird iuipelled by claim imperious 
Of hunger, liurries on in quest of food, 
Refusing to refrain for idle talk, 
li(^sponds in negative, necessit}' 
Has higher claims than merely pleasures' plea. 

Thi.n Nanabush extends to him this bribe, 
If he this mystery will st(X)p to solve ; 
To paint the plumage of his beating breast 
In brilliant colors ; neither this alone ; 
To C(ind) the feathers of his head erect. 
Enhancing unich his dignity and grace. 
O'ercome by offers such as these, the bird 
Appioache<I and asked what favor he desired. 

Then Nanabush points out the substance white 
Tossing upon the tide ; and bids him tell 
How came it there ; and what its origin. 
The bird replied, " Can you be ignorant 
Of such portentous facts as this involves ? 
For that which is the sport of winds and wavas 
Was once a portion of the hunter brave, 
Your brother loved and lost so long ago ; 
Who by the treachery and cruel claws 
Of wa-bi-mee-zhee-be-zhee did perish here." 

Such news bestirs the soul of Nanabush, 
And all attention, anxiously he asks 
What are the haunts and habits of his foe. 

His feathered friend, solicited, replies : — 
" When the enchanted lake is lulled to rest, 
Wa-bi-mee-zhee-be-zhee and all his braves, 

*Kish-ke-mah-ze — Kingfisher. 



12 THE DKLITGE. 

Upon a certain soft and san<ly sliore 
Beneath the sun's declining rays are seen 
Desporting on the beach, or wrapped in sleep." 

Rejoicing inwardly, he paints the breast, 
Combs vip the tut't on Kish^e-niah-ze'^s head ; 
Who forthwith leaves, his supper soon to seek. 

Now Nanabush with thrilling, throbbing thoughts^ 
And step elastic strides his homeward way ; 
Thirsting for blood — the lion white must die. 

His straightest, sharpest shaft he cjuick selects. 
And mourns to-morrow's sun is slow to rise. 
No sooner has its golden ear recros^Sfd 
The line meridian, than he seeks the shore 
Where he has learned his foe.s are \'»ont to mt;et. 

To hide his presence from the lion white. 
He must assume some unsuspected form. 
Hence by that power, inherent in himself. 
His metamorphoses is quickly made ; 
And what was Nanabush is now a tree 
By storm despoiled of every branch and bough 
He stands a stub upon the sandy .shore. 

He seeks the Spirits' favour him to send 
Those gentle winds and waves, in which alone 
His enemy e'er seeks the shingleii strand. 

He long the silver surface scanned in vain 
With anxious eye ; — at length two lusty loons 
With dismal .screams its crystal surface cleave ; 
And spreading wide their pinions fly afar. 
Encouraged by the fear the * maun displayed 
Intent he watches for his wily foe. 

At length the enchanted billows boil and beat. 
And teem with life in every living form 
Of burly beast, and subtle serpent shape. 
Not only wa-bi-raee-zhee-be-zhee appears. 
But by his side among the horrid host 
He sees -f* ooga-wush-kwa mee-zhee-be-zhee, 
Cousin to him who slew Chee-bi-zah-booz. 

They all espy the unaccustomed form 

Of tree truncate*! standing on the shore. 

Where no such stem had previously appeared. 

*Maun— Loons. 

t Ooga-wueh-kwa mee-ghe-be-ghee— Yellow lipn. 



THE DELUGE. 13 

Saspicloiis le.s't some treachery betray 
Tlieiii to their ruin, all concerte<l cry— 
" "Tis surely Nanabush our common foe." 

Whereat I ke-che-ke-.na-l)ig lx)asting-ly, 

With subtle skill shaking his ^aly skin, 
And crest courageous, fairly flies to face 

Thc^ foe suspected, folds him in his coils, 

And circling round his throat with cruel crush, 

Eound to determine what his natiire was. 

By strangulation he had surely won. 
His object, had not i^anabush invoked 
The Spirit's secret and sustaining aid. 

The reptile writhes anil quite exhausts hinise'jf. 
But not one sign of conscious pain is seen ; 
V')ur hero suffers stoically the strain. 

At length the serpent fully satisiied 
That ah their fears were groundless and absurd, 
Ilelaxed liis coils and to the -sport returned. 

Suspicious still, Kee-che mah-qwah declares 
No tree e'er stood on that secluded spot .; 
.So fiercely he the doubtful form assails, 
With tooth and claw he tests its genuineness, 
Wdiether 'tis wood or Nanabush in truth. 

His cruel claws plough furrows deep and long 
About the face and head — his horrid huo; 
Is tried with thew most dreadful to endure ; 
But grimly grins, and sternly stands his foe. 
And thus defies the grizzly's giant grip. 

Quite foiled Muh-qwah reports on his return — 
'Tis but a tree; no latent foe could lie 
Concealed in tree or form inanimate, 
Suffering in silence such severe ordeal. 

So all in unison at once agree 
That form of tree denuded long had stood, 
And storm survived unnoticed or unseen. 

Nothing to fear, the games go on apace, 
Until exhausted all lie down to sleep, 
By -f- kwin-gwis guarded who as sentry sits. 

JKe-che-ke-na-big — Gt boa constrictor, 
*Kee-chee-inah-qwah— Grizzly bear. 
fKwin-gwis— Chipmunk. 



Now Naiiabush assumes his native shsepe-^ 
And creeping cautiously towards the foe, 
All wrapped in silent slumber on the shore. 

His proud breast heaves, his dark eye flashes fixe,, 
For surely the auspicious hour lias come 
When he shall glut his vengeance on the foe 
Who in his brother's blood embued his fangs. 

But kwin-gwis all alert and quite alarmed 
Begins by cliatter the whole host to warn. 

Sdenced by bribes which Nanabush extends : 
Consents to silence, even condescends 
To aid our hero's subtle plans and plots 
And give him access, to the Lion White. 

Kwin-gwis enlisted thus the task performs, 
Mendaceously he manges to still, 
* Mee-gik whom his first warning had aroused 
And falsely tells him that he only chide 
f Teennlees who surreptitiously had stol'n 
His supper sUiCculent which he had shelled. 

Me-gik, with drowsy eye and solemn tone,. 
Exhorts him " brethren always should agree," 
Though feeling this was easier said than done ; 
(Preaching is easy, practice difficult ; 
Yet some must preach or discord and dismay 
Would soon prevail to earth's remotest bounds). 

With mind relieved and fears dispelled mee-gik 
Composed himself once more to balmy sleep. 

Seizing the offered opportunity. 
Stepping with stride elastic, Nanabush 
Passing the sleeping foes which lie between 
Him and his hated enemy he soon 
Approaches and attacks the Lion White, 

Having determined where his beating hearfe 
Pulsated, he a pointed, polished shaft 
Drove home with deadly aim, as he supposed. 

His furious foe awoke with deafening roar. 
And mad with pain plunges beneath the tide^ 
Followed by all the panic-stricken horde. 
Who dared no longer face the fiercest foe. 

*Mee-gik— Tlie Otter. 
tTeen-dees — Blue-jay. 



THE DKLXJGE. 15 

Elated by liis prowess and success 
By which Jiis foes were thus discomfitte<:l, 
He homeward wends his winding- way witli joy ; 
Exulting wa-bi uiee-zhe-be-zhee the great 
Is slain by Nanabusli, whose brother loved 
The lion shew at the enclianted laka 

Sonie days elapsed. 

As Nanabush bestrode 
The forests wild, he met * min-de-moya 
Loade<i with bass-wood bavk of texture tine ; 
Whom he accosts in blandest tones to attempt 
If he might ascertain whoiii she may be ; 
And with what purpose this same burden iDears. 

But she by age and long experience shrewdy 
Suspects that he is neither more nor less 
Than Nanabush, her chief's most deadly foe. 

He by this charge confronted, skilfully 
Lulls her suspicions, telling her, in truth, 
Had he been Nanabush, he had ere now 
Bereft her of her life, nor talking there 
Had wasted time to band}^ useless w^ords. 

He gathers gradually from this old crone 
That ** 0-dan-a lies far beneath the waves 
Of the enchanted lake, where still exists 
The Lion White, though wounded nigh to death. 

She tells him 'tis her honoured lot to wait 
With one more min-de-moya on her chief. 
In wigwam quite secluded they abide, 
Seeking by this enchantment to extract 
The subtle shaft which Nanabush had driven 
Quite near the heart of their beloved chief. 

She thus narrates that circling round his couch, 
They sing this sacred song in tones of grief, — 
"f" Min-doo-ge-maum ! min-doo-ge-maum! wa-hooh ! 
Mjji-doo-ge-maum ! wa-hooh ■ wah ! wah ! wah ! wah ! 

As for the linden lines, they mean to make 
Therewith a telegraph along the shores 
Of all the lake enchanted, and whereby 
They are apprised of any foul attempt 
Of Nanabush their village to invade. 

* Min-de-moya — Indian gi-anny. 

**0-dan-a— Village. 

tMin-doo ge-maum — Mj' chief ; wahooh and wah, interjections of sorrow. 



i& THK DELUGE'. 

For as lie tro<l the .shores liis feet would stvikt 
Ao'ainst this bark, and warn the Lion White 
Of* the dread presence of his enemy ; 
Wlio all his braves might with one call convene 
And wreak their vengeance on a common foe. 

He from this dnsky, wrinkled dame obtains 
Knowledge of that mysterious path which k^d 
Down to 0-dan-a, where his enemy 
Still holds tenaciously the thread of life. 

Having learned all the aged crone coald tell 
He grasps her hoary head with giant grip ; 
And, as a feather tossed upon the tide, 
So he this wretched woman shook and tossed 
Till tiesh and bone fell from her emptied skin. 

Almost intact, this Nanabush retains ; 
And by his wondrous power miraculous 
His form diminishes, until within 
The same he can esconse lumself with care ; 
And thus conceal his dread identity, 
From all the foes o-dan-a's strongholds liide. 

Taking as honoured guide * o-mnh-kuh-kee, 
He hastens down the hidden highway swift, 
And soon with joy the royal wdgwam spies 
Wherein is hid his foe the Lion White. 

The other crone suspecting something Avrong, 
Asks many questions of the long delay 
And strange appearance of her late ally. 

To none of these our hero makes reply, 
But with inierrinw aim he smite her down — 
One mighty mortal blow, and all is o'er ; 
Her life and questions end in tragic death ; 
Sad warning to the over-curious mind. 

Entering the royal tent he soon perceives 
The arrow, which his prowess once hand plunged 
Quite deep into the sturdy, stubborn side 
Of his dread enemy, is part withdrawn. 

He sudden seized the same between his teeth. 
And with one potent thrust he drove it through 
The throbbing heart of his detested foe ; 
W^ho not one roar can utter e'er his life 
Pours out with his heart's blood in torrent red. 
*Omuh kiih-kee. — Frog. 



THE DELUGE. 17 

He fiercely now the foe recumbent flays 
With soul revengeful, still insatiate ; 
Nothing can quench that liorrid, raging thirst 
But flesh of vanquished foe. He then proceeds 
To cook the banquet that he there may glut 
His vengeance fully, and his appetite, 
Sharpened Ijy retribution long delayed, 
Appease at length by famous feast prolonged. 

But soon a long and deafening cry evokes 
The echoes of o-da na * (like to that 
Which broke the silence of the midnight air 
In Egypt, when the messenger of death 
Entered each home and slew all the first born. 
Or when that oriental tyrant bade 
His heartless soldiers steep their swords in blootl, 
Nor stay for Rachel's crj'- ; but extirpate 
The babes of Bethlehem from two years old.) 

So rang that startling shout in o-da-na : — 
" Awake ! awake ! to arms ! for Nanabush 
Has slain our chieftian true, the Lion Whita" 

With clash and clamour all the hosts convene 
And rush concerted on the common foe. 

Against such odds, in open war he deems 
It not expedient to contest the ground, 
So refuge seeks in flight. They press him sore, 
But swift of foot he safely gains the shore ; 
Treads solid earth, and breathes the higher air. 

But with alarm he sees the enchanted lake 
Upheave its angry waters now surcharged 
With woeful vengeance, and rush madly on 
In swift pursuit of his retreating feet. 

He scales the highest mountain ; nor till then 
Does he the fleetness of his footsteps stay. 
Gazing athwart the distance he traversed, 
He sees the vengeful torrent toiling on. 

It fills the valleys — climbs the mountain's side ; 
Kisses with cold and clammy lip its peak, 
And laps the feet and limbs of Nanabush, 
Determined quite to doom the direful death 
The fell destroyer of the Lion White. 

*Those illustrations do not appear in the original legend. 



iS THE DELUDE. 

But lie alert, seizes the tall * shin-gwauk 
And Jithly up its living trunk he glides 
Until between him and his cruel foe 
There intervened three hundred feet of space. 

\et to his horror, hifjher still and hip-her 
He saw, inimical the element, 
Creep up insidious, till its waters wash 
His feet once more, and thi'eaten to submerge 
Him neath the billow, there bereft of life, 
Shall buried be ambitious hopes and plans. 
And not till then wa-bi mee-zhee-be-zhee 
Shall fully be revenged, and rest in peace. 

But Nanabush addressed the pine tree thus : — ■ 
" Good tree, I thee invoke, extend thyself. 
Stretch every fibre, strain thy utmost strength ; — 
Show other trees how high thy top can reach ; 
Straighter and statlier thou then shalt staiid 
Than any monarch of the forest kind. 
Yea strive to pierce the caracoling clouds, — ■ 
Become the peerless prince of pine trees great, — 
Yet to thyself in feats of mant o-rowth 
A name immortal, coveted by all." 

Thus flattered and invoked the tree complie.s. 
And thrice appealed, adds to its towering height. 
Till, strained to utmost tension, it exclaims, 
" Now Nanabush my efforts here must cease ; 
For I have gained the highest point supreme 
Possible to anything in shape of tree." 
Yet still the vengeful flood creeps up apace 
Determined quite to doom its foe to death. 

At length its raging waters cease to rise, 
And stay their course just as the eddying tide. 
Exhausted quite, had reached the upturned chin 
Of Nanabush upon the pine tree's top ; 
And thus he 'scapes the torrents' threat'ning fate. 

Glancing around he spies both men and beasts, 
Some swimming for dear life, some clinging fast 
To drift-wood driven along the surging surf, 
Despair and desperation in each eye. 

*Shin crwauk — Pine tree. 



Tim TDELTJGE. 19 

He calls aloud to * me-gik and -f* ah-mik 
Also to I wahg-hushk, "Come, my brethren, here, 
Let us convene, in sage council consult 
As to our future ; since the flood prevails 
**f )'er all the earth below, we must prepare 
A home befitting to our higher claims ; 
For 'tis preposterous quite to think of life 
While water covers all the face of earth. 

Your feats of diving all the world admits; 
To one of you the palm belongs 'tis plain ; — 
An opportunity presents itself 
^y which this c^uestion may be set at rest 
Por all the future, and that one the prince 
Of divers .shall be called, who shall descend 
Through this dark depth of waters, and obtain 
A modicum of earth, by which I may 
Upbuild another world since this is lost, 
And deluge- wrapped in everlasting night. 

Me-gik ambitious, first the task essays, 
And plunges down the unknown, unfathomed deep. 
In breathless silence all the rest survey 
The waters' surface,' till alas they see 
The otter float ; but life is quite extinct. 

'^h-mik now tries his skill, but like me-gik. 
He too returns a corpse for want of breath. 
But Nanabush with gentle, loving hands 
Takes each, and by his mighty power divine 
Breathes into them again the breath of life. 

The trying task on wahg-hushk now devolves 
To pierce these darksome depths, and earth obtain, 
Or ruthless ruin is the lot of all. 

He, nothing daunted, takes the momentous plunge> 
And after long delay, and boding fears, 
He lifeless rises to the waters' crest. 

Then Nanabush with anxious eye intent, 
Searches his paws, and opens wide his mouth ; 
And with a cry of joy exclaims aloud : — 
" Here is the clay ! another world we build." 

*Me-gik— Otter. 
+Ah-niik— Beaver. 
JWahg-hushk— Musk-rat. 



He soon restores the brave musk-rat to life ; 
With high enconiums on his daring deed, 
His title gives, " Jlie Prince of Divers all." 

Tlien taking in hiw hand the precious clay, 
He dries the same by friction 'tween his palms 
And casts it forth upon the waters wide. 

When, wondrous power, it soon assumes the shape 
And beauty of an isle, perfect and grand. 
To which he calls all animals and men. 
Who gladly come. But soon 'tis evident- 
It lacks the space so many lives require. 

He now * muh-kwah employs to walk around 
The shore, and tramp with pondrous paw the soil ; 
Which shall expand beneath his heavy tread 
Until a wide, wide world is thus create. 

The bear in earnest bends liim to the task 
And soon much soil is added, — mighty swamps. 
And murky morass circle round the isle, 
Of which our hero highly disapproves ; 
And summoning muh-kwah, he bids him cease, 
And tells him of such soil this must suffice : 
Bears may admire the dense, dark, dismal swamp ; 
But men and others love the higher land. 

The island yet too narrow and confined 
Is urged to be by ail its living freight ; 
And so as land-maker, there issues forth 
*f-Wah-wah-shkash, bounding quickly, skirts the shores 
With noble forest land, whose summits stand 
Studded with stalwart maple, elm and beach, 
Yet interspersed with valleys, deep ravines ; 
While lofty hills and mounts their tops uprear. 

These steep declivities please not the eye. 
Fastidious of Nanabush, who stops him short, 
And calls on ** Ma-man-gwa to try his skill, 
And to a wondrous world make manifest. 
His taste and talent for creating land. 

Who taking on his brilliant wings some grains 
Of dust most dry, he o'er the watery waste 
Flits swiftly, scattering all around the isle 
The earthly morsels which soon form themselves 

*MuVi-kwah. —Bear. 
fWah-wah-shkash. — Deer. 
**Ma-man-gwa.— Butterfly, 



THE DELUGE. 31 

In prairies broad and beautiful, bedecked 
With flowers of every hue, and belts of trees 
Breaking the dull monotony, which else 
Had tired the eye, and rendered less desired 
This land now coveted by all mankind. 

Well-pleasing to the criticizing gaze 
Of Nanabush, these prairies smile around ; 
And to the butterfly of talent great 
For such a task, the contract he awards 
To consummate the continent required. 

He now emploj-s "f* o-mee-mee to compute 
The size of this vast island, stretching far 
Beyond the ken of any human age. 

The dove sets forth, on pinion swift she flies ; 
But unto Nanabush returns no more. 
Bewildered in interminably flight. 

He then sends forth * kah-gahze to obtain 
Admeasurement of all the laiul create. 
The ra\'en ventures forth, but days and weeks 
Are found to intervene e're he returns. 

At length witli tired wing, and frame reduced, 
He perched one evening on a pine tree top 
Above the head of Nanabush, who chode 
Kim for his dalliance. He made reply : — 
Tlnnk not tliat I have wasted precious time 
( )n pleasure, neither left undone my task. 

The land created is so wide and vast, 
I scarce surveyed the swamps inuk-kwah has made, 
And flew the forests o'er of wah-wah-shkash ; 
Nor winged my way on tired pinion wi<le 
O'er that expanse of space immeasureable, 
Which light-winged ma-man-gwa has covered 
With fertile prairies, e'l-e with weary wing, 
I hastened home, and to my chief report 
What lands unlimited he rules supreme^ 

Then Nanabush rejoicingh' replied : — 
Since thou this wondrous feat hast well performed ; 
Take as reward, thy lawful lasting right, 
All earthly kingdoms are thj- ^ o-nali-gun 
Whence thou shalt sup, nor ever lack for food. 

tO-mee-mee. — Dove. 
*Kah-gahze — Raven. 
+0-uah-gun. — Dish. 



THE I) K LUGE. 



Thus joy pervaded all the varied ranks 
Of men, and birds, and beasts both wild and tame, 
Wlien they surveyed the forests fraught with game 
And deep recesses of the shelt'ring swamps ; 
And beauteous prairie, level like the sea, 
And sparkling streams, and rivers rolling wide. 
Their voices blended in one grateful song. 

^ , . ^ JOHN I. HINDLF.Y. 

" ^ " ' " ^"^^ "^ ^^ ^-^^^^ .^ 

^ ^ " ^9 'i A<^ tuH" ^T^^ 









ti 






ER^TA 



Ghee-bi-yah-boo.<;' read Chee-bi-_\iili-booz, i>a'j-es 2, 3, 4. 
Thrust read thirst, page 3. 
Looses read lesser, pag'e ;'>. 
Thrust read thruugh, page T. 
Chides insert after word sorely, line six, pafje S. 
Ear read car, paj^e 12. 

Oo<ra-wush-kwa read ooza-wusli-kwa, on page 12. 
. The direful read to direful, page 17. 

/ jh Enconiums read encomiums, page 20. 



